Beyond the Field: What it Takes to Be Fit and Win Article

The Washington Commanders may not have reached the National Football League playoffs this year, but they are Special Olympics superstars in our book.

On Friday, December 16, 2022, just two days before playing the New York Giants in a crucial NFC East Division showdown, the Commanders were kind enough to invite five Special Olympics Virginia athletes who write a quarterly fitness and nutrition newsletter to their training facility in Ashburn, Virginia.

The trip was organized by offensive tackle Charles Leno, Jr., and his wife, Jennifer, who together created a non-profit organization called Beyond the Entertainer to give back to their community. Special Olympics is one of many groups to benefit from their endeavor, but the first to be treated to such a hands-on experience!

Not only did we get to watch some football practice, tour the facility, eat lunch with athletes and staff members, and meet star players – we also sat down one-on-one with the Lenos and several coaches, trainers and nutritionists for interviews. What we learned about getting and staying in shape should be helpful to all Special Olympics athletes – not just those who are Commanders fans!

Below you will find excerpts from those interviews. But first, some highlights from the day:

We were led to a big building that had the Commanders name displayed on it. They had lots of photos on the walls, and they had trophies displayed that they had won during various seasons. The building was really like one big history book of the Commanders. It was so cool!

We then went out to the practice field and watched them run light scrimmages for a while. Then Charles Leno, Jr., came over in his #72 jersey, and we took some photos with him and some of the rest of the team. Jennifer Leno posed for some of the shots, too. After that, we went back inside to their cafeteria, and there were SO many options for lunch, including for special diets such as gluten-free.

Jake Sankal, the team nutritionist, taught me how to make a Chocolate Hulk Smoothie that is a favorite for most of the guys on the team. It includes eight ounces of almond milk, one banana (frozen preferably), one handful of kale, one tablespoon of almond butter, one scoop of something called UCAN powder, one packet of chocolate protein powder, and five ice cubes. Jake said that it would probably be best for most people to add just one fruit, since adding a lot of fruit is more sugar.

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Several of us were able to tour some staff offices, as well as the gym where several players were working out. They have a section totally dedicated to supplements and juices and even have listed when you should take each of them. When the tours were over, we were led to an auditorium where not only Charles Leno, Jr., but star defensive end Chase Young met us and posed for photos. We were given goodie bags to take home, including a jersey signed by Charles Leno, Jr.

We all were so thankful for this opportunity. It was something we will always remember. It’s hard to believe any of us were nervous (like myself!). The more things you try, the more your view of the world expands, and it helps you learn that you can do anything.

I was highly impressed with what Charles Leno, Jr., and his wife, Jennifer, were explaining to me about all the programs and ideas they came up with to help those within their community. I was also highly impressed with all the organizations they have worked with over the years to continue their inspiring volunteer goals.

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I was also highly impressed with all the organizations they have worked with over the years to continue their inspiring volunteer goals.

Both the interview and overall experience I had was such a fun time, and I’m thankful there are some individuals on the Washington Commanders who, on top of sports, are also passionate about volunteer work and helping those around them succeed and thrive in life.

I got a chance to sit down with Jennifer King, a Running Backs Coach for the team. She has been a professional football player herself as a member of the Carolina Phoenix of the Independent Women’s Football League and was named an All-American seven times. She coached at the college level and for the Alliance of American Football before coming to the NFL. She joined the Commanders two years ago, and her job involves scouting the other teams in the NFL to see how they play and how our team can respond, so that our running backs can make plays and touchdowns.

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We talked about the game, skills, safe play, and her life as a key member of the program. She started by showing me how she views the other teams (LOTS and LOTS of film) and how she and the players figure out new ways to improve. She let me run some drills and work with some of the tools, like a ball stuck to a stick so she can try to strip it away while I move.

As a running back myself for the Area 26 Avengers, it was super special to learn from a real pro how to improve my game. Even in flag football, we have contact injuries, and knowing how to train to protect ourselves and recognize when we have a real problem is important. Ms. King said the same thing as our head coach, Matt Elliston: We have to move our feet to avoid getting flags pulled.

I met some of the training staff and talked to one of the assistant strength and conditioning coaches, Kavan Latham. He showed me the weight room, which was huge, and he showed me how to do some squats to help with my daily running streak.

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I ended up sitting in on how they scout the next team that they play by watching film. That way, they can learn everything they can about their opponents to try and figure out how to beat them. The Commanders do this several times each week, so they know what to do when they are playing them.

I found it amazing how hard they work behind the scenes to make sure that the players don’t get hurt. Before meeting with Lindsay, I thought that when a player got injured they just magically got back up and went to the locker room.

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It was also really interesting to hear that the players are hydrating both before and after the game. I always try and hydrate but now I will be sure to hydrate both before and after my Special Olympics games.

I also found it interesting that if you have a bad attitude about your injury it will take longer for you to recover. So now I know that if I get an injury (knock on wood), I will make sure that I have a good attitude towards my doctors and myself.